Robot vacuum not charging? Docked is not the same as charging
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Find where charging breaks down
| What you see | Start here |
|---|---|
| It circles the dock or repeatedly backs away | Dock access, placement and anything blocking alignment |
| It sits on the dock without confirming charging | Dock power and the model’s contact-care instructions |
| The app shows an old battery level | Refresh the status using your model’s guidance |
| A temperature or charging error appears | Record the exact message and follow that model’s instructions |
Stop using damaged equipment. Do not open the battery pack or charging dock, bridge contacts with metal, or try an improvised charger.
Check power and the charging signal
With dry hands and the equipment switched off, check that the intact power cord is seated at both ends. Reconnect and look for the charging confirmation described in your manual, such as a voice prompt, app status or indicator pattern. Do not assume every dark dock light means a dead dock.
The Roborock Saros 10 manual separates power and contact faults from slow charging caused by temperature. Its indicator patterns and operating limits apply to that model, not every robot.
If there is a temperature warning, follow the manual’s permitted conditions. Do not use a heater, hair dryer or freezer to force charging.
If it approaches but will not settle
Check the dock’s recommended location and clear loose cables or objects from its approach. Look for a folded mop pad or another attachment preventing the robot from sitting correctly. Do not push it into place with your foot or prop it up with a wedge.
LG’s docking guidance highlights installation, obstructed sensors and incorrectly fitted mop pads. It also recommends starting cleaning from the station. Clearances and suitable flooring differ, so use your own dock’s installation instructions rather than a universal distance from the wall.
If your manual allows manual placement, try that once. Charging successfully when placed correctly points toward a docking or alignment problem; it does not prove that every part of the charging system is healthy.
Clean contacts without borrowing another brand’s method
Turn off the robot and unplug the dock before maintenance. Find the actual charging contacts in the manual, then use its approved cleaning method on both sides.
Roborock specifies a soft, dry cloth for the Saros 10 contacts. Do not automatically transfer advice about wet cleaning pads or abrasive cleaners from a different robot. Stop if a contact is damaged or the dock will charge only while you hold the robot against it.
Check whether the battery reading is current
For robots covered by iRobot’s Home App battery-indicator guidance, a remote connection may not update the reading fully. iRobot advises checking on the local network and, if necessary, waiting 15 minutes before reopening the app. That is a status-refresh check, not a promise of a full charge in 15 minutes.
Record the battery reading, time and any charging confirmation. Check again after the interval recommended for your model. If charging still does not progress, send support those observations plus the robot and dock model numbers.
Do not factory-reset as a first step. On the Saros 10, a system reset restores settings such as Wi-Fi and scheduled cleaning to factory defaults. Check the consequences for your own model before following a reset procedure.
Official guidance checked October 10, 2026.